Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I stumbled on Self Magazine's website this week, and discovered a jackpot! They provide articles and slideshows to their workouts, and even have videos for them, too, for a demonstration ... all for free! Home videos/DVDs are great, but if you're like me, you get bored very quickly! One of the keys to success is variety. So here it is, all at your fingertips...

If you're looking for a fantastic workout, check out this one by Jillian Michaels.(Yep, I'm going to be sore tomorrow!)

Monday, January 5, 2009

First some background info... For my birthday, Jason gave me some money - always nice to get, right? Some people might think it's cop-out, which it kind of is. But I have to give him credit; he's really trying, especially because he knows that I'd rather choose my gift than get something I really don't like - and he knows that I woudn't have the heart to break it to him if I didn't. So, I've held onto the cash for a few weeks because I really wasn't sure what I wanted to spend it on.

Well, I've decided to invest it in my health. More than anything I would like to shed all my unwanted pregnancy pounds! And, this is where I'm putting myself out there...

Reason #1: I signed up for a 12-week fitness program through an online organization. (Does this show just how desperate I am, that I'm seeking weight loss solutions via the Internet?) However, I already know that we just don't have enough in our monthly budget to sign up for a gym membership, where I could rely on a personal trainer for tips. I own several exercise videos, but besides the fact that I've plateaued in difficulty, and therefore, in results; I'm bored! And I really didn't want to throw my money away at some diet agency, like weight watchers, or on diet pills, like Metabolife or Hydroxycut - that most likely won't even work.

What appealed to me about this website is that, as a member, you are assigned one-on-one fitness trainers in nutrition, cardio, and resistance training, using whatever equipment you have - whether you have a gym membership or a home gym. (I have a few items: stability ball, 5-pound weights, and a resistance band. It isn't a lot, but you'd be surprised how many variations of exercises you can do with these few items!) You can email back and forth as much as you want. I'm also impressed with the affordability of the program. It cost a little more than a 4-week bootcamp that I joined last February when Jacob was 7 weeks old.

I just became a member last night, and already I've received 3 fitness e-books for free and a customized exercise program. Tomorrow, I will be getting my customized diet program. I have the self-discipline, but not a lot of know-how. As a ballerina in my younger years, I knew how to maintain my weight and shed a few pounds while preparing for a show. But after having children I have a lot more to lose than just water weight! and I really don't want to give up on myself! ... so, in my desperation, I am crossing my fingers that this works! I certainly have the self-discipline. I'm hoping that this website can fill in the gaps that I lack.

Reason #2 (for putting myself out there): before and after photos to come! Scary...

Saturday, January 3, 2009

So, I've been kinda sick of our "Jason & Tiffini" title ... seeing all the cute and creative names my friends have come up with. I recently heard a song by Taylor Swift - you guessed it - Tied Together With a Smile. It's not really romantic or mushy, but I know we feel like our life has turned upside down this last year, and for now, this song pretty much sums us up!

Transition #1Okay, so I'll admit it, we didn't stay up till midnight on New Year's Eve. In fact, we didn't even try...

We went to bed at 7:30.

Jason had just completed 16 hours of salting the day before and put in another 12 on New Year's Eve; and I'm trying to get Jacob to sleep in his bed with Laci, which involves getting up 4-5 times a night.

Transition #2He hasn't slept in his crib since the move, even for his naps. He never really liked his crib to begin with, but I think the change of scenery in a new bedroom was hard for him to handle. So, he takes naps sporadically during the day and has been sleeping in our bed with us at night. Laci has figured out that she was being excluded and would wait up till we went to bed then sneak in with us. Needless to say, our bed has become very crowded. (I jokingly suggested to Jason that we just need to get a giant wall-to-wall bed for us all to sleep in, of course creating an easy way out. He responded by saying that it would be the perfect birth control method.)

So, this transition has been 3 months in the making:1. putting Jacob's bed in Laci's room next to hers (preparing him visually for the change)2. laying him down during storytime instead of letting him wander around and play with toys3. and in the last three weeks actually laying down with him for 30-45 minutes till he falls asleep (otherwise he won't stay in his bed, and Laci is now insisting that we keep her bedroom door open, allowing him to wander out 50 times a night)

I was hoping that sleeping next to Laci would make the transition easier on him. Unfortunately, it hasn't helped at all. Thankfully, after 3 weeks, he's reluctantly accepting his fate. The last two weeks he would immediately wail as soon as I laid him down and cling to me with a death grip. This week he wimpers a little because he knows what's coming. Maybe by next week, I can start sitting at the end of the bed, so he can see me, but not have me right there next to him. I'm learning that with Jacob, I need to make changes VERY slowly.

Transition #3Our final transition will be moving within the next month, instead of in July when our lease is up. (I am so sick of moving!) Our landlord contacted us with the possibility that he might lose the house. He's currently working with his mortgage company to get a loan modification, but we're not crossing our fingers. We've already started looking for another house, and are simply waiting to hear the final word. Whenever it is, hopefully, it will be the last move that we will be making for a long time!